JustWatchMe

I was banded March 2014 and the band is helping me with the physical aspects of my relationship with food. For the psychological, emotional and spiritual underlying issues, I've returned to the 12 step program this week. I was in OA 20+ years ago but dropped out early in my marriage. I've started attending Codependents Anonymous meetings. I'd like to hear from people who have found the 12 step programs to be of help as they have learned to live without the crutch of excess food after WLS. I may return to OA as well, but I'm learning that my relationships with several key people in my life have been very damaged, and so CODA is where I am starting. Back when I was in OA, I lost 130 pounds, but immediately began to regain. I'd never done thorough work on the underlying issues, nor had I truly worked beyond the first three steps. OA was pretty much a diet support group for me back then. Thanks in advance.

I was happily making my own cream soups, but check with your NUT or doctor. I just added veggies to everything in the blender. Side note: maybe it's my iPhone but I cannot read your posts with the font and color you use. I can only read it when I hit "quote" so it puts it in regular text.

Welcome to Bandland! The breathing will get easier. Try to walk as much as you can and if the hospital gave you a breathing gadget use it. The first couple of days are uncomfortable, so if you use painkillers, be sure to drink prune juice so you don't get constipated. Good luck and stay connected here! We are all rooting for you!

Here's what doesn't give me a soft stop, so I guess these are my sliders: salad Soup Popcorn chips Pasta Some breads Here's what gets me stuck: Pork chops Here's what gives me a soft stop and satisfies me if I slow down and chew well: cheese Red meat like beef or hamburger chicken Chili Some breads eggs Here's what satisfies me for hours but does not give me a soft stop: Protein shakes .

Sounds like you're too tight or eating too fast and too big of bites. Don't keep doing that because you'll damage your band. Sounds like "stuck" to me. Happened to me with pork chops. If it's all your meals, call your doctor for a band checkup or adjustment.

I love unjury chocolate. I didn't care for the chicken or unflavored. I'm five months post banding and still drink the unjury some mornings for convenience. Order some packets too. Those are great for travel.

One day, one meal at a time. Today make your next choice a positive and healthy one. Remind yourself why. Stay connected here and know we all have our struggles, but we can get back up on the horse at this very moment. And congrats on your success! I hope to be at that weight by my next birthday. I can do it too. I need to remember that daily.

@@Bandista, I want to be a delicate eater too !

Wendy, take it from me. It's never too late. I'm 53 and I started over in my life. You recognize the problem and want to change it. Just worry about today. Heck, just worry about the next eight hours. One foot in front of the other. Don't over think it. Just do it. Today just low carb. Choose proteins you enjoy. Get some fresh air and take half an hour to meditate in any way you like. Even if that's listening to music or reading. Just. Do. It. We're here for you. Tomorrow will take care of itself. .

Congrats to all of you. What a beautiful family! So many happy changes!!!

I know it's normal. I know it will grow back. I know it's not that noticeable except to me because I have such thick hair to begin with. But it sucks, it's scary, and it makes me sad. At three months post banding my hair began to come out and at four months it's coming out by the handful. I disagree with people who blame it on Protein. I get my protein every day and always have. Carnivore here. I also disagree with the losing weight too quickly theory. My loss rate isn't fast enough to cause hair loss. I tend to believe that it is indeed the hair follicles' reaction to surgery and/or anesthesia. But, whatever the cause, it unnerves me. I tend to take after my mother medically. I developed arthritis at the same age she did. She lost her hair twice after reacting to going off and on a certain rheumatoid arthritis drug. The second time it never grew back. She used to have thick, full hair like me. Now she is bald and even lost her eyebrows. Two years later she has no sign of regrowth. So I wonder if my hair will come back. I don't take the same arthritis drug she does, but the worry is there. Anyway, just feeling a little down about it today. On the plus side, I had a few inches of length trimmed off a couple of weeks ago, and the shorter style combined with the thinning hair makes for a cooler summer "do".

http://m.tickld.com/x/next-time-someone-says-women-arent-victims-of-harassment-show-them

I am sorry for your loss.

Five months out for me and still enjoying the honeymoon. My fills helped a lot.

Good luck to you. We do need to be really ready to make this change. I wish you the best.

Sorry you're in pain. The codeine will constipate you so if you can drink prune juice do it. I hope you're feeling better soon. Walking helped me.

For me, it was six weeks of full liquids after surgery. Then my first fill two days later. I lost a lot of weight but I won't lie, it was basically a liquid diet. I eased into foods that two days, got a fill, and went back on liquids for 48 hours. Not easy, but I lost a lot of weight. Once foods were in my diet, I followed 800-900 calories for a long time per my doctor's instructions. Now I have around 1000. Not sure if I could have eaten more that early. I was pretty compliant. I went to Italy 17 days after my first fill. I watched my intake but didn't deprive myself. Two weeks later I weighed the same as when I left, and resumed weight loss that week. Good luck.

Yes. Your body is reacting to multiple stressors. On top of that, the suicide of a public figure brings up fears in anyone who has battled depression in any form. That includes a lot of us here, me too. Your life is about to change and become so much more than you expected. Feel the feelings. Don't eat them. Follow your team's protocol, get some exercise, and I promise you, in four weeks you will be amazed. God bless.

Great description. Now I want yogurt. Lol

Get right back up and climb on that horse. The view is wonderful.

@@Bandista, I'm speechless. *applauds*

I did a double take when I read the topic title. o_O Joking aside, I didn't tell anyone at first except for five people. But now, 80 pounds down, I did tell a few folks at work. I didn't want scrutiny or advice or judgment. I was afraid I'd get all that if I said anything early on. But now that I've had a good weight loss, some of that fear left.

I am so confused about sizes that I don't even bother. I will know I am truly a size ten once I fit into a Levi's shirt I wore in college. I kept it, my daughters later wore it, and now they gave it back to me because I'm gonna fit in it by my next birthday. That shirt was from 1979 when a size ten was a size ten. I was five feet six and 155 pounds when I was a size ten. Now I've shrunk to 5 feet 5 inches, so I'll have to be down to 145 probably. I'm glad the shirt is a classic, and you bet your butt I'm gonna wear it till it falls apart.

Been there, done that. For me it was pork chops. Tried them not once, but twice. Won't try them a third time. And now I know at the first sense of feeling that sensation, I need to STOP EATING! What on God's green earth made me think another swallow of food would HELP? LOL. Live and learn.

A rant worth waiting for....